ACA News - LibGuides at Appalachian College Association

The Appalachian College Association is pleased to announce that the application period for the 2026 Ledford Scholars Program is now open. Eligible undergraduate students from ACA institutions are encouraged to seek funding to support their intensive research projects in either the summer or fall terms of 2026. Deadline for fully completed applications (including endorsement letters from your CAO and Faculty Mentor) is Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Visit the Ledford webpage to learn more and/or submit a proposal.

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Call for Proposals: Ledford Scholars Undergraduate Research Projects

The Appalachian College Association is pleased to announce that the application period for the 2026 Ledford Scholars Program is now open. Eligible undergraduate students from ACA institutions are encouraged to seek funding to support their intensive research projects in either the summer or fall terms of 2026. Deadline for fully completed applications (including endorsement letters from your CAO and Faculty Mentor) is Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Visit the Ledford webpage to learn more and/or submit a proposal....

Registration Is Open for the Rural Higher Education Leadership Institute

The Appalachian College Association, in collaboration with Credo, is thrilled to host the second cohort of the Rural Higher Education Leadership Institute (RHLI) in 2026. RHLI specifically aims to empower leaders in private rural and rural-serving institutions. Running from February 2026 and through September 2026, this hybrid program is designed to develop aspiring campus leaders with a particular focus on leadership in the rural higher education institutional context. The opening workshop will be held in person at Berea College (KY) February 24-26, 2026; the one-day closing workshop will be held in September 2026 as a part of Summit in Asheville, NC. All other monthly sessions will be offered online. Participants can expect to engage in conversations not only with higher education experts but to extend their network with colleagues from across the ACA. The monthly schedule can be found here along with additional logistical information. We look forward to providing not only a memorable and impactful professional experience for participants of this second cohort, but we also are excited to further develop a larger RHLI community more broadly. Join us! Click here to register by December 1, 2025. ...

Call for Proposals: CTL "Brown Bag" Spring Series

The ACA”s Center for Teaching & Learning seeks proposals from faculty and staff to facilitate sessions in the spring semester for its new initiative, Teaching Exchange: Brown-Bag Conversations to Spark Practice. These sessions are designed as collaborative spaces rather than formal presentations. Each online meeting invites faculty into a structured, interactive conversation about core issues in teaching and learning. To learn more and/or submit a proposal, please visit the special application site. Submission deadline is Friday, December 8, 2025....

Ledford Scholars Summer and Fall Research Presentations Now Available for Viewing

The ACA is very pleased to share the recorded presentations of our 2025 Ledford Scholars who completed their research projects during either the summer or fall terms. The Ledford Scholars Program offers financial assistance for intensive research projects to undergraduate students enrolled at ACA member institutions. Undergraduate students from Appalachian or contiguous counties, from any disciplines, are eligible, and a variety of fields of study, research approaches, and methodologies are supported each year. Visit the Ledford Scholars webpage to learn more about the program...